The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) today issued a boil water advisory for some customers who are experiencing or experienced a loss of water pressure on Friday, January 19, 2024. This is a precautionary measure to customers in the affected area to boil water that could be ingested due to water of unknown quality in this localized area of the system. Do not drink the water without boiling it first. This recommendation will remain in place until follow-up testing confirms the water is safe to drink.
DC Water encourages customers to find their address on the interactive map at dcwater.com or Call the 24-hour command center at (202) 612-3400 to determine whether they fall within the scope of this recommendation. Customers in the impact area should boil water for drinking and cooking. Customers outside this area can continue normal water usage.
Affected neighborhoods include Colonial Village, Shepherd Park, North Portal Estates, Walter Reed, Takoma, Brightwood, Manor Park, Lamond Riggs, Queens Chapel, Fort Totten, Pleasant Hill, Brightwood Park, Crestwood, Petworth, Rock Creek Park, Hawthorne and Barnaby Woods, Chevy Chase, North Cleveland Park, Forest Hills, Van Ness, Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, Massachusetts Avenue Heights and Woodland-Normanstone Terrace.
Customers in the affected area should follow this guidance at this time:
- Discard all drinks and ice made after 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024.
- Before cooking, run cold water until it runs clear (if it is discolored).
- If known sources of lead are present, run cold water for two minutes before cooking.
- Bring water to a boil for 1 minute and allow to cool.
- Store chilled water in a clean, covered container.
Chilled, boiled water or mineral water should be used for:
- Drink
- Brush teeth
- Preparing and cooking food
- Wash fruits and vegetables
- Preparation of baby food
*Do not use household filter devices instead of boiled or bottled water.
What happened (background)
On the afternoon of January 19, 2024, DC Water received a number of calls from customers in Northwest DC reporting low or non-existent water pressure. DC Water investigated the system and determined that there was low pressure in several locations in the affected area. Crews are still investigating the cause and working to restore system pressure.
Due to the loss of pressure in the distribution system, back pressure, back-suction, or a net movement of water from outside the pipe to the inside through cracks, breaks, or joints in the distribution system can occur, which are common in all water systems. A loss of pressure could result in a high risk of fecal contaminants or other pathogenic organisms entering the distribution system. These conditions can pose an immediate and significant health threat to those served by the system. We are still investigating the cause of the pressure loss and will test the water once the cause has been identified and resolved.
Bacteria and other disease-causing contaminants such as viruses and parasites can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a particular health risk to infants, young children, some elderly people and people with severely weakened immune systems.
The above symptoms are not only caused by microbes in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you should seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice from their doctor about drinking water.
We have no information that the water was contaminated by this incident, but are issuing this advisory as a precautionary measure while we test the water. DC Water will collect samples in the affected area. The advisory will be lifted when testing for two consecutive days shows the absence of bacteria and all customers can resume their normal water consumption, which we estimate will be no earlier than Sunday, January 21st.
Please pass this information on to anyone else who drinks this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (e.g., people in homes, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You may do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or by mail.
Customers with water quality questions should contact the Department of Water Quality at (202) 612-3440 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). All other questions should be directed to DC Water customer service at (202) 354-3600 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the 24-hour command center at 202-612-3400, or the Office of Marketing and Communications at (202) 787-2200 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Information can also be found at www.dcwater.com.
This notice and additional information are also available at www.dcwater.com.
Additional resources
EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791
Personal preparation and storage of clean water: CDC provides guidance on the amount of water needed for good health and how to safely prepare and store water before and during an emergency.
Hygiene and hand washing: CDC provides guidance on alternative hygiene practices when water is unavailable or contaminated.
Keeping your hands clean in an emergency will help prevent the spread of germs. If your tap water is unsafe to use, wash your hands with safe soap and water. For more information on how to keep your hands clean in an emergency, see the handwashing section below.
How should you wash your hands?
- Wet Rinse your hands with clean running water (warm or cold), turn off the faucet, and apply soap.
- foam Your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Do you need a timer? Hum the song “Happy Birthday” twice from start to finish.
- Wash Keep your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry Clean your hands with a clean towel or air dry them.
Consumer information: EPA provides information and guidance on drinking water quality, emergencies, contaminants, public health issues, and treatment and storage.